Met Office yellow wind warning covers North Yorkshire

A yellow weather warning for wind was in place from midnight for North Yorkshire and other parts of the UK, expected to last all day on Thursday 21 December, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said¹. Northern Powergrid, which supplies the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, said the warning covered its network area from 00:00 to 21:00 that day and that Storm Pia could affect its electricity network².

The fire service said power cuts were "not likely, but may still occur", and could affect other services such as mobile phone coverage¹. Northern Powergrid, which describes itself as powering everyday life for 8 million people, said Storm Pia "does have the potential to have an impact on the electricity network, so there is a possibility that there could be disruption to power supplies"². It said its teams were on standby and that customer support vehicles and welfare partners were ready to go out into local communities where possible².

The fire service set out who to call for wind related incidents. A tree fallen on a road but not endangering life should go to the local authority; a tree fallen on a road or vehicle and endangering life should go to 999 and the Fire and Rescue Service. A tree fallen on a property but not endangering life is the personal responsibility of the owner. An unsafe structure overhanging a public highway or footpath, or endangering life, should go to 999; one overhanging property but not endangering life is the owner's responsibility¹. Northern Powergrid said anyone spotting fallen trees on power lines or poles, or damaged cables, should stay well clear and call 105 immediately².

The fire service advised people to be aware of flying debris, and said tiles may be blown from roofs, suggesting an alternative parking space may be worth considering if a car is parked near a building with a tiled roof¹. It advised checking for loose items outside the home and planning how to secure them, listing bins, plant pots, garden furniture, trampolines (turned upside down or secured with tent pegs) and sheds (doors locked)¹. It said injuries and danger to life were higher from large waves and beach material thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties¹. For travel, it advised checking routes and modes of transport before leaving, and for drivers: driving slowly, holding the steering wheel firmly, leaving a bigger stopping gap, using dipped headlights, giving cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses more room, and using main roads if possible¹.

Northern Powergrid's power cut advice included having a charged mobile phone with 105, the free national power cut phone line, to hand; turning off appliances at the socket, particularly heating or cooking appliances; keeping one light switched on; keeping a battery or wind-up torch rather than candles; checking on elderly or sick neighbours and relatives; and keeping warm clothing, blankets and food and drink that does not need electricity². It said to call 999 only in an emergency².

Why it matters for households

The warning applied from midnight to 21:00 on 21 December across North Yorkshire and Northern Powergrid's network area of the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire¹. Households in that area could see travel disruption, including longer journey times and cancellations to road, rail, air and ferry services, and possible power cuts affecting mobile coverage¹. Northern Powergrid said customers registered for its free Priority Services Membership would be contacted about restoration times and additional help by text or landline call, day or night². It asked customers to report power cuts online or on 105 to help locate faults².

What happens next

Northern Powergrid said it would keep customers updated via its website, social media channels and text message if needed². Separately, it reported that on Friday 22 December the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire from 08:00 to 22:00 on Sunday 24 December³. For how warning levels work, see Met Office weather warnings: yellow, amber and red explained; to receive alerts directly, see how to sign up for Met Office weather alerts.